Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored a hat-trick as Arsenal defeated Valencia 4-2 and Chelsea beat Eintracht Frankurt in a penalty shoot-out to set up an all-England Europa League final in Baku on May 29.
With the Champions League in Madrid on June 1 between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, it means all four finalists of Europe’s two top club competitions are from the same country for the first time.
Arsenal progressed in Valencia with Alexandre Lacazette also on target to go through on a 7-3 aggregate and reach their first European final since losing in the Champions League to Barcelona in 2006.
Chelsea, the 2012-13 season winners, and Frankfurt ended the 90 minutes and extra-time at Stamford Bridge at 1-1 and 2-2 on aggregate, before Eden Hazard scored the decisive penalty in a 4-3 shoot-out victory.
In Valencia, the home side went in front through Kevin Gameiro in the 11th minute but Arsenal were on level terms six minutes later when Aubameyang struck with with the outside of his foot.
“We reacted well to going behind and we knew we had to score a minimum of one goal tonight,” Lacazette told BT Sport.
“Auba was unbelievable tonight with an incredible hat-trick, so thanks to him.
“We have played badly in Premier League during the last month and now we have to use this opportunity. We want to play in the Champions League next season and we want the trophy.”
Arsenal manager Unai Emery said: “I am very proud of the players and the supporters. The players did all they could and we can be proud of the whole club.”
“We knew we had to be calm after they scored and we needed to control our emotions.
“It is very difficult to score four goals against this team because they are very organised. It gave us confidence to score quickly we know our strikers are taking chances.”
At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea finished a spell of domination when Hazard fed Rubens Loftus-Cheek and the England midfielder side-footed in with a measured shot to give the home side a 28th-minute lead.
Frankfurt levelled through Luka Jovic four minutes after the interval and after chances for both sides, Chelseadefender Cesar Azpilicueta thought he had scored a late extra-time winner.
The ball was nudged over the line after keeper Kevin Trapp appeared to lose his grip on the ball, but the goal was ruled out.
The shoot-out then saw Trapp save from Azpilicueta but Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga stopped a Martin Hinteregger shot and saved from Goncalo Pacienca, before Hazard stepped up to convert the winning penalty.
Spanish keeper Kepa had refused to be substituted in the Carabao Cup (League Cup) final before a penalty shoot-out against Manchester City at Wembley earlier this year, leading to a club sanction.
“Penalties are down to luck. Today we won and in the Carabao Cup final we lost, but this is football,” he told BT Sport.
He added: “Wembley is in the past and I learned form it. I said I was sorry but we always keep moving forward and today was another game and we are happy to get to the final.”
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